Athletic pants



Nov. 1, 1938. M; LUERY ET AL ATHLETIC 'PANTS Filed Oct. 29, 1936 E'neai 32%;

Patented Nov. 1, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT "OFFIQE ATHLETIC PANTS tion of Maine Application October 29, 1936, Serial No. 108,202

8 Claims.

Our invention relates to athletic pants and has to do more particularly with a novel construction of athletic pants especially adaptedfor use in such games as football and the like, which will provide added protection and freedom for the players knees and shins.

For a long time it has been customary to provide pants of this type with a bellows or gusset in the knee in order to give room for expansion of the garment when the knee is bent. A disadvantage usually incident to such constructions, however, has been that the bellows, once it has been expanded as a result of flexing the leg, fails to close, thus reducing the protection required for the wearers knee and adjacent portions of the leg and spoiling the appearance of the garment.

We have devised an improved construction which solves this problem. The various advantages incident to our invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring now to the drawing forming part of this specification and illustrating a preferred embodiment of our invention:

Fig. l is a front plan view of a pair of pants embodying our invention;

Fig. 2 is a detailed view of the knee portion thereof, on an enlarged scale, parts being cut away to show the construction more clearly;

Fig. 3 is a rear plan view of the knee portion;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

The pants illustrated in the drawing comprise leg portions H3, H1 having knee portions indicated generally by the numeral |2.

Said knee portions terminate in a hem I5, in which is enclosed an elastic web "5, whereby the garment will fit closely about the leg of the wearer below the knee. Said knee portion I2 is also provided with a plurality of pockets separated by longitudinal seams I8, said pockets housing knee protecting pads of sponge rubber or the like.

Above said pads 20 there is inserted a V-shaped gusset 2|, said gusset secured to the lower portion of the pants le by seam 22 and to the upper portion by a seam 23. The knee portion immediately above the gusset 2| may be reinforced and stiffened as at 25 by an extra layer of cloth, as shown clearly in Fig. 4.

At opposite sides of the gusset 2| we preferably provide on the outside of the knee portion l2, retaining members 26, 26. Said members 26 may be formed of leather or other suitable material and although shown in the form of triangles, may obviously be cut in other shapes. Said retaining members 26 reinforce the ends of the pocket or gusset 2|, preventing the same from ripping, and also aid in holding the gusset in such shape that it may readily be restored to folded position after opening.

Attached to the fold of the gusset 2| as by means of stitching 3D is a strip of elastic webbing 32, the other end of the webbing being secured to the front of the knee portion l2 as by stitching 33. Said webbing 32, as seen best in Figs. 3 and 4, is normally, when the gusset 2| is in folded condition, in such a state that any unfolding of thegusset will place said webbing 32 in tension, thus applying a force to the gusset tending to restore it to folded position. It will thus be seen that, after the wearer has flexed his knee, opening the gusset 2|, the latter will automatically be restored to folded position as soon as the knee has been unflexed. The knee construction is thus maintained in a neat appearance at all times while afiording maximum freedom and protection.

We preferably provide an added knee protecting member 35, in the form of a felt pad or other suitable device, which may also be secured by the seam 33.

Various changes coming within the spirit of this invention may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, and hence we do not wish to be limited to any specific form shown or uses mentioned exceptto the extent indicated in the appended claims, which are to be interpreted as broadly as the state of the art will permit.

We claim:

1. Pants comprising a pair of sections, an exvpansible and collapsible knee gusset connected to said sections, a pad secured to one of said sec tions and extending back of said gusset when said gusset is expanded, and elastic means connecting an intermediate part of said gusset to the rear of one of said sections for collapsing said gusset behind said sections.

2. Pants comprising a pair of sections, an expansible and'collapsible knee gusset connected to said sections, a pad secured to one of said sections and backing a substantial part of the other section when said gusset is expanded, and elastic means connecting an intermediate part of said gusset to the rear of one of said sections for (:01- lapsing said gusset behind said sections.

3. Pants comprising a pair of sections, an expansible and collapsible knee gusset connected to said sections, elastic means connecting an intermediate part of said gusset to the rear of one of said sections for collapsing said gusset behind said sections, and reinforcing tabs protecting the junctures of the ends of said gusset with said sections, said tabs being formed to assist in collapsing said gusset.

4. Pants comprising upper and lower sections, an expansible and collapsible knee gusset connected to said sections, a pad'secured to and depending freely from said upper section and extending behind said gusset When said gusset'i's' expanded, and elastic means connecting said gusset to the rear of a part of said pants for collapsing'said gusset behind said sections.

5. Pants comprising a pair of sections, an expansible and collapsible knee gusset connected to said sections, a pad secured to one of said sections and extending behind said gusset and a sub'-' stantial part of the other section when said gusset is expanded, and elastic means connected to the rear of one of said sections and to said gusset for collapsing said gusset behind said sections.

6. Pants comprising a pair of sections, an expansible and collapsible knee usset connected to said sections, a pad secured to one of said sections and extending back of said gusset when said gusset is expanded, and elastic means congusset of the back of said pants for collapsing 'said gusset behind said sections, and a common seam uniting said pad and means with one of said sections.

8; Pants comprising a pair of sections, an expansible and collapsible knee gusset connected to said sections and folded behind one of said sections when collapsed, a pad secured to one of .said sections and extending back of said gusset when said gusset is expanded, and elastic means connected to the fold of said gusset and between saidipad and the first mentioned one of said sections for collapsing said gusset behind said section. MICHAEL LUERY.

ERNEST BELER. 

